Fremantle's focus on points, not jinx

Justin Chawick

Forget about the psychological battle, Fremantle will be merely happy escaping with the four points when it locks horns with Hawthorn in Sunday’s grand final re-match at Patersons Stadium.

The Dockers have lost their past six matches against Hawthorn, with the average losing margin during that period a worrying 41points.

Last year’s 15-point loss in the grand final was the closest Fremantle has come to Hawthorn since 2010, but it also ranks as the club’s most painful defeat given what was at stake.

Then in round three this year the Dockers flopped badly in the first grand final re-match, conceding 12 goals to two in the opening half on the way to a 58-point hammering.

Fremantle is a strong chance to cross paths with Hawthorn again during this year’s finals series.

But Dockers coach Ross Lyon has not been buying into talk his men need to win on Sunday in order to break the Hawks’ psychological hold over them, saying Fremantle’s battle to retain fourth spot was more crucial.

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‘‘It’s more important for the ladder,’’ he said. ‘‘At the end of the day it wouldn’t matter who we’re playing – we’re after four points.

‘‘Hawthorn are a great team. They’re a dual premiership team from ’08 to now, and also played in a losing grand final. We’d like to scalp the Hawthorn Football Club. They’re in a position where they need to keep winning as well, so it’s going to be on.’’

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Sunday’s match also could prove to be season-defining for Hawthorn, which is locked in a three-way dogfight with Sydney and Geelong to secure a top-two berth.

The defending premier will be without star forward Jarryd Roughead (suspension), but his loss has been offset by the earlier-than-expected return of Jack Gunston from a knee injury.

Full-back Brian Lake also returns to the side after serving a four-match ban, with Billy Hartung squeezed out of the side.

Fremantle has been bolstered by the return of goalsneak Michael Walters and utility Tendai Mzungu from injury, while Alex Silvagni was called up to replace Luke McPharlin (calf).

Matt de Boer and Nick Suban were axed following indifferent form.

Walters hasn’t played since damaging a tendon in his ankle in April, but he proved his fitness last week with a solid display for WAFL side Peel Thunder.

Although Fremantle is short on marking power in attack, Lyon hopes the ground-level fleet of Walters, Hayden Crozier, Hayden Ballantyne and Max Duffy will cause plenty of problems for Hawthorn’s defence.